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NORTHERN TERRITORY
Within earshot
Wednesday, 8 October, 2008
The Northern Territory has the unfortunate reputation of having the highest rate of ear disease in the world.
The bacteria which can cause hearing loss is particularly rampant in the Territory's remote indigenous communities, often developing at the very early stages of infancy.
Watch the video
Your Say: Should hearing trials be conducted throughout other indigenous communities?
Paediatrician Peter Morris says ear disease is rife. "From roughly three months of age at least until they enter school, ninety per cent of children will have some form of ear disease. We're most concerned about the twenty to thirty per cent that will have perforated ear drums and discharge from the middle ear" he says.
But researchers are hoping to change the statistics which have made the territory famous, with a controversial innoculation for pregnant women aimed at protecting children from the bacteria that causes the disease the moment they are born.
"We're really trying to buy some time for the kids in those first important few months of life to see if we can provide some protection from mum that can help them get a good start" says Ross Andrews of the Menzies Instute.
Video journalist Emma Cook travelled to the top end and discovered there's more to this trial than meets the eye.
Source: SBS
The bacteria which can cause hearing loss is particularly rampant in the Territory's remote indigenous communities, often developing at the very early stages of infancy.
Watch the video
Your Say: Should hearing trials be conducted throughout other indigenous communities?
Paediatrician Peter Morris says ear disease is rife. "From roughly three months of age at least until they enter school, ninety per cent of children will have some form of ear disease. We're most concerned about the twenty to thirty per cent that will have perforated ear drums and discharge from the middle ear" he says.
But researchers are hoping to change the statistics which have made the territory famous, with a controversial innoculation for pregnant women aimed at protecting children from the bacteria that causes the disease the moment they are born.
"We're really trying to buy some time for the kids in those first important few months of life to see if we can provide some protection from mum that can help them get a good start" says Ross Andrews of the Menzies Instute.
Video journalist Emma Cook travelled to the top end and discovered there's more to this trial than meets the eye.
Source: SBS
